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The most recent and biggest baseball-related March 10 news for Yankee fans occurred in 1999, as it was that day it was announced that Joe Torre was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Yanks finished the spring and began the season under interim Manager Don Zimmer, as Joe took care of himself and, thankfully, got well. He returned to the team on May 10, in Boston. Continue reading March 10 in Yankee History
After an injury-plagued and frustrating 1935 season with the Boston Braves during which the elusive managing job he craved eluded his grasp yet again, Babe Ruth had given up. On March 9, 1936, he turned down an offer from the Cincinnati Reds to stage a comeback, an offer that once again hinted at a behind-the-bench opportunity. Continue reading March 9 in Yankee History
We felt privileged and lucky to be in Tampa on March 8, 1999, when we heard the sad news that Joe DiMaggio had passed on. Had we been home when we heard it, we would have had nowhere to turn, as the Ballpark in the Bronx was not up to speed yet. Things were handled in a pretty dignified manner at Legends Field, and a painting of Joe was placed in front of his number and plaque in the southern wing, if you will, of Monument Park. It made it easier to spend a moment honoring and remembering “the Greatest Living Ballplayer.” Continue reading March 8 in Yankee History
The Yankees signed Orlando “el duque” Hernandez on March 7, 1998. He was a starter before the season was out, and won the biggest game of that season’s postseason in Jacobs Field in Cleveland. After an injury-plagued season in Montreal in 2003, he eventually re-signed with New York in the spring in 2004. Not much was expected, but he came through for a decimated staff, saving the season before tiring entering the playoffs. Alas, he signed with the White Sox for 2005, where he had a middling year, with one electric outing vs. the Red Sox in the playoffs. A proven winner, The Duke signed with the D’backs in 2006, but following a trade he has been a mainstay in the Mets’ rotation on the other side of New York next. Continue reading March 7 in Yankee History
When Babe Ruth signed a three-year deal on March 6, 1922, he more than tripled the yearly salary of teammate Frank “Home Run” Baker, the second-highest on the team. But it was only fair. He had outhomered him in 1921 by better than 7-to-1; The Babe hit 59 to Baker’s eight. Continue reading March 6 in Yankee History
The story tells itself once the names of the two Yankee players involved are mentioned, I’m sure. It was more than 30 years ago today that hurlers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich decided to swap wives (more like families, actually) in Spring Training. Some point out that the story had a happier outcome for Fritz, for he was with the ex-Mrs. Kekich for many years, while the other couple did not last a month. But although it’s true that Fritz also lasted longer in the Bronx after the incident, neither lasted long. Both were banished to Cleveland in trades, though at different times so they were not teammates again. Continue reading March 5 in Yankee History
On March 4, 1913, the Yanks became the first club to train outside the U.S., as they set up camp in Bermuda. Continue reading March 4 in Yankee History
It could have been many a recent Yankee fan’s nightmare, only it happened during the day, and was just a one-day glitch after all. There was shortstop and Captain Derek Jeter as a visiting player in George M. Steinbrenner Field, renamed that way from Legends Field, on March 3, 2009. Playing for World Baseball Classic Team USA, Derek singled in two runs off Phil Hughes, had a second hit and scored a run. Taking over first base in the sixth, new Yankee Nick Swisher had a two-run single, but the USA team rode a four-run sixth off young Eric Hacker to a 6-5 victory. New 2010 Yankee Curtis Granderson was hit by a Hughes pitch and scored a run. Continue reading March 3 in Yankee History
The offseason was a series of pseudo Father’s Days in baseball’s last decade of the 20th Century. When Tino Martinez was traded to the Yankees in late 1995, his wife was giving birth to one of their children. Likewise, on March 2, 1992, Ryne Sandberg signed a contract with the Cubs that made him the highest paid player up to that time (a four-year extension worth $28.4 mil). That signing also happened to be the 14th birthday of his son, Jared (see below). Continue reading March 2 in Yankee History
No month in the schedule is immune to depressing news. March and spring are supposed to be about rebirth, regeneration and growth, but injuries happen, players show up late, some even sit out over contract disputes. Perhaps saddest of all: the March retirement. And on March 1, 1969, Mickey Mantle revealed the undeniable, the truth that everyone already knew and didn’t want to admit, as he announced his retirement. He is not the only great Yankee to do so in the spring. Continue reading March 1 in Yankee History
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